Lead alloys containing a plurality of the metals of the alkaline earths.



FRANCIS FRARY, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, AND STERLING N. TEMPLE, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA; SAID TEMPLE ASSIGNOR OF ONE-SIXTH OF THE WHOLE RIGHT TO SAID IRARY.

LEAD ALLOYS CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF THE METALS OF THE ALKALINE EARTHS.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, FRANCIS C. FRARY and STERLING N. TEMPLE, c1t1zens of the United States, residing at Minneapolis and new and useful Improvements in Lead Alloys Containing a Plurality of the Metals of the Alkaline Earths; and We do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 7

Our invention has for its object to provide an improved metallic alloy having certain characteristics especially adapting it for use in the casting of type and similar articles in molds, and in the manufacture of bullets and other forms of ammunition.

In the manufacture of type metal, hardness and resistance to compression without cracking are necessary, and furthermore, the metal employed must be of such character that it will not contract on solidifying, but, on the contrary, will slightly expand and fill the mold in which it is cast. In the manufacture'of ammunition, it is very desirable that the alloy be hard and that its specific gravity be as high as possible, so as to thereby concentrate the maximum of kinetic energy in a minimum volume.

Certain of the above noted desirable characteristics have hitherto been produced by adding a considerable proportion of antimony to lead. The antimony, however, reduces appreciably the specific gravity of the alloy. Furthermore, antimony, especially at the present time, is very expensive, as compared with lead, and because of the considerable amount thereof necessarily employed,

makes the alloy expensive.

In carrying out our invention, We use small quantities of a plurality of the metals of the alkaline earths (magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium) in a main body of lead.

We are aware that many persons do not consider magnesium as a metal of the alkaline earths. However, in its properties, it

' more closely resembles calcium, barium and strontium than it does the other members of the second group of the periodic system,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application fi led July 31, 1915. Serial No. 43,010.

Patented Nov. 2, 19115.

and We believe it to be properly classed with calcium, barium and strontium, and, hence, have so considered it in this application.

Experiments which we have made have demonstrated that by an expenditure of a given amount of money for the metals to be added to the lead, a much harder and heavier alloy can be produced by the use of a plurality of the above noted metals of the alkaline earths, than can be obtained by the use of any one thereof, alone, with the lead.

We have also found that by the use of less than two per cent. in all of such a plurality of the metals of the alkaline earths, the alloy may be made as hard as commercial antimonial lead, or harder than the same. We have further found that the alloy containing a plurality of the metals of the alkaline earths may be improved and made still harder by the addition of a small amount parts barium, 0.19 parts strontium, 0.1 parts 5. 98.7

magnesium and 0.25 parts copper. parts lead, 0.42 parts calcium, 0.56 parts barium, 0.12 parts magnesium, 0.2 parts copper. 6. 98.76 parts lead, 0.41 parts calcium, 0.46 parts strontium, and 0.37 parts copper. 7. 99.35 parts lead, 0.5 parts calcium, and 0.15 parts magnesium.

' Comparing the above given examples of the different alloys made'in accordance with our invention, all but examples 6 and 7 are decidedly harder than the hardest comme cial antimonial lead. Examples 6 and 7 are nearly ashard as this antimonial lead. Example4 is the hardest of all of those given, while examples 1, 2, 3 and 5 are a little softer than example 4, but distinctly harder than antimonial lead.

Commercial lead, as well as pure lead, is

commercial lead contains small quantities of copper and some other materials not removed'in the process of purification. Frequently commercial lead will contain as large an amount of copper as would be desired in the alloy, and in this. case a further addition of copper would not, of course, be needed.

i What we claim is:

1. As a new articlev of manufacture, a metallic alloy containing lead and applurality of the metals of the alkaline earths. 2. As a new article of manufacture, a metallic alloycontaining lead, a plurality of metals of the alkaline earths, and copper. 3. As a new article of manufacture, a

hard lead alloy consisting of a main body.

of lead, to which has been added a small amount of a plurality of the metals of the alkaline earths.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a hard lead alloy, consisting of a main body of lead," to which has been added a small quantity of a plurality of the metals of the alkaline earths, and a small amount of copper, 4

5. As a new article of. manufacture, a hard lead alloy consisting'of a main body of lead, and a plurality of the metals of the alkaline earths in an amount less than two per cent.

"6. As a new article of manufacture, a tough hard lead alloy, consisting of a main body oflead, a plurality of the metals of the alkaline earths in an amount less than two per cent, and a small amount of'copper.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a

hard lead alloy consisting of a main body of lead to which have been added small hard lead alloy consisting of a main body of lead and small amounts of magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium. A

10. As a new article of manufacture, a hard lead alloy consisting of a main body of lead and small amounts of magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium, and also a small amount of copper.

In tes'timonywhereof we afiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS C. FRARY. STERLING N. TEMPLE. Witnesses:

CLARA DEMAREST, F. D. MERCHANT. 

